I like to feel like I really know the people whose Blogs I read, especially seeing as it is my fellow travelers who tend to inspire me the most.
Two female travel bloggers that inspire me exponentially are Brooke from World of Wanderlust and Amanda from A Dangerous Business. Through reading their stories and religiously browsing their blogs, I feel like they are old friends, not people who I’ve never met before, which is how I want my readers to feel when they read my posts!
To give you a little bit more of an insight into my opinions and past travels, I have taken it upon myself to post a “self-interview” after reading Amanda’s A to Z travel post.
A: AGE YOU WENT ON YOUR FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP:
I can’t remember exactly, but I was around 13 and it was to Bali, Indonesia with my family. I have since been to over 20 more countries.
B: BEST (FOREIGN) BEER YOU’VE HAD AND WHERE:
I am not a big beer drinker, so this narrows down my choices, but I would have to say Heineken in Amsterdam or Bintang in Bali.
C: CUISINE (FAVORITE):
Asian cuisine is my absolute favourite, from Sushi to Dumplings to Pho, I love it all! I will add that I have a new found love and appreciation for Pizza and Pasta from my week in Italy last year.
D: DESTINATIONS, FAVOURITE, LEAST FAVOURITE AND WHY:
Favourite: Apart from my home, Australia, it is an equal tie between Paris and Barcelona! I can’t really explain it other than it was love at first sight. When you know, you know, right!?
Least Favourite: I hate to be a voice of unpopular opinion, but London just did not live up to its hype. I found it to be crowded and just not that appealing to me. London lacked the “pizzazz” I thought it would be figuratively drowning in.
E: EVENT YOU EXPERIENCED ABROAD THAT MADE YOU SAY “WOW”:
It is super cliché, but for me seeing snow for the first time ever in the Swiss Alps was one of my biggest “WOW” moments. Growing up in Perth, Australia, we never experience freezing temperatures, let alone snow, so it has always been on my bucket list and I was like a little kid at Christmas when I finally got to hold that freezing white fluffy ice in my hand for the first time.
F: FAVORITE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION:
Another tie- I love flying because it is generally the most efficient way to travel, but, I love cruising because there is something so peaceful about being rocked to sleep on a ship while you travel through the Aegean Seas.
G: GREATEST FEELING WHILE TRAVELING:
That intoxicating rush of happiness and excitement you feel when arriving into a new place.
H: HOTTEST PLACE YOU’VE TRAVELED TO:
Apart from Australia, I’d say Bali is the hottest place I’ve traveled to. It is generally between 80-100% humidity and upwards of 25°c year round which makes for a popular tropical holiday destination.
I: INCREDIBLE SERVICE YOU’VE EXPERIENCED AND WHERE:
Balinese people in general are some of the most beautifully natured and hospitable people I have come across. I can’t remember a particular place I’ve received incredible service, though my sister and I found unbelievable kindness in a complete stranger and his wife when we were stranded in Paris with no phone or accommodation- but that’s a story for another time!
J: JOURNEY THAT TOOK THE LONGEST:
Perth to London! Just out air time alone was 19 hours, not including airport waits and check-in. I think all up it took us around 24 hours to get to London.
K: KEEPSAKE FROM YOUR TRAVELS:
I have postcards from everywhere I’ve been on my walls as decoration, and I like little bits and bobs from the places I see such as my Eiffel tower key chain and my Mickey Mouse Christmas snow globe from Disney Land in Paris. I also love getting things that are useable and edible, such as cheese from The Netherlands, lollies from China and a scarf from Turkey.
L: LET-DOWN SIGHT, WHY AND WHERE:
For me, the Colosseum and Trevi fountain were the most disappointing sights; I was expecting way too much for these overcrowded and tourist filled sights. They were still beautiful, just not what I’d romanticised in my head.
M: MOMENT WHERE YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH TRAVEL:
The first time I went to Bali, with my family, I remember being in the taxi on the drive from the airport to our hotel and I just fell in love with travel. The feeling of exploring somewhere so completely different to home. It is such an intangible feeling, and one that I don’t think will ever go away for me.
N: NICEST HOTEL YOU’VE STAYED IN:
Another tie for me- between The Duxton Hotel in Perth which is beautiful and extravagant and The Pullman Hotel in Bali which is super modern and spacious and tropical (everything you need for a relaxing 5-star holiday).
O: OBSESSION—WHAT ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH TAKING PICTURES OF WHILE TRAVELING?:
I’m not going to lie… selfies are my go to photo. selfies with new friends, selfies with tourist attractions, selfies of me on the plane… the list goes on and on 😉
P: PASSPORT STAMPS, HOW MANY AND FROM WHERE?
More than 20, though that’s including return stamps. My stamps include multiple ones to Bali, and entry/exit stamps for Australia, Ireland, France, Turkey, Spain and China.
Q: QUIRKIEST ATTRACTION YOU’VE VISITED AND WHERE:
Some of the museums in Amsterdam were quite “quirky” to say the least, and the Torture museum visited in Prague was both quirky and sickening!
R: RECOMMENDED SIGHT, EVENT OR EXPERIENCE:
I could go on and on and on about places to see and visit. Witnessing a sunset from the village of Oia in Santorini, Greece is something I would recommend for every single persons bucket list.
S: SPLURGE; SOMETHING YOU HAVE NO PROBLEM FORKING OVER MONEY FOR WHILE TRAVELING:
I am equal part budget traveller and comfort traveller. I have no problems forking over money for better flight times, extra leg room or a hotel with air conditioning. I find I am most frugal before I leave for my trip, which allows me to spend more freely while travelling.
T: TOURISTY THING YOU’VE DONE:
I don’t mind being labelled a tourist, as I believe everyone should travel however they want to. You’re travelling doesn’t suddenly become invalid if you decide you want to go on the London Eye or take a guided tour of Berlin- everyone’s experiences are different!
I’ve eaten croissants beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris, tossed coins into the Trevi Fountain in Rome and taken photos of me “holding up” the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa. All of these things have been fun experiences for me #noregrets!
U: UNFORGETTABLE TRAVEL MEMORY:
Seeing the “Hallelujah Mountains” in Zhangjiajie, China. These are the mountains that inspired James Cameron’s Avatar, and I will never forget the awe I felt seeing them up close.
V: VISAS, HOW MANY AND FOR WHERE?
4 different countries so far- Indonesia, Turkey, China and USA.
W: WINE, BEST GLASS OF WINE WHILE TRAVELING AND WHERE?
The best wine I had while travelling was probably the Champagne I drank while at the Moulin Rouge in Paris. Maybe my opinion is swayed by the exciting feeling of drinking Champagne in France, but it was delicious none the less.
X: EXCELLENT VIEW AND FROM WHERE?:
Oia, hands down!. I felt like I was part of a painting standing amongst the quaint, blue roofed, and white walled buildings in the picture perfect village of Oia in Santorini, Greece.
Y: YEARS SPENT TRAVELING?:
If you add up all the time I’ve spent traveling over the past 10 years, I would probably fall just short of 1 year I total, but I can’t say I’ve sat down and calculated that figure.
Z: ZEALOUS SPORTS FANS AND WHERE?:
England- those Football fans are insane (and passionate)!
Around The Globe With Kat 